孩子们 is the common, plural form for 'children' in Chinese, used widely in everyday contexts.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Refers to children, plural.
- Common and versatile in everyday Chinese.
- More informal than '儿童'.
Overview
“孩子们”是中文里表示“children”的最常用词汇之一。它由“孩子” (háizi)，意为“child”或“kid”，加上复数后缀“们” (men) 构成。这个词非常普遍，无论是在口语还是书面语中都经常出现，适用于各种场合。
“孩子们”通常用作句子的主语、宾语或同位语。作为主语时，它指代正在进行某个动作的儿童群体；作为宾语时，它指代动作的对象。例如，“孩子们在公园里玩耍。” (The children are playing in the park.) 这里“孩子们”是主语。“老师爱孩子们。” (The teacher loves the children.) 这里“孩子们”是宾语。
这个词在家庭、学校、社区以及日常对话中都非常常见。父母会谈论“他们的孩子们”，老师会谈论“班上的孩子们”，人们也会讨论“街上的孩子们”或“邻居家的孩子们”。它也常出现在关于教育、成长和家庭生活的讨论中。
与“儿童” (értóng) 相比，“孩子们”更口语化，更具亲切感。“儿童”则更正式，常用于书面语、新闻报道或学术讨论中，例如“儿童保护法”。另一个相似的词是“小孩” (xiǎohái)，它通常指年龄更小的孩子，有时也带有轻微的贬义或不正式的意味，但“孩子们”则不包含这些负面含义，适用范围更广。
Examples
孩子们在操场上跑来跑去，非常开心。
everydayThe children were running around the playground, very happy.
我们应该关注留守孩子们的成长问题。
formalWe should pay attention to the growth issues of left-behind children.
你看那群孩子们，玩得多投入！
informalLook at that group of kids, they're so absorbed in playing!
该研究旨在分析不同年龄段孩子们认知发展的影响因素。
academicThis study aims to analyze the influencing factors of cognitive development in children of different age groups.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
孩子们玩得很开心
The children are having a lot of fun
爱护孩子们
Cherish/Protect children
孩子们的未来
The future of the children
Often Confused With
'儿童' is a more formal term for children, often used in official, academic, or news contexts. '孩子们' is more common in everyday speech and has a warmer, more familiar tone.
'小孩' generally refers to younger children and can sometimes sound slightly less formal or even a bit dismissive depending on context. '孩子们' is a neutral and widely applicable plural term.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The term '孩子们' is highly versatile and can be used in most everyday situations when referring to multiple children. It carries a sense of familiarity and warmth. While generally informal, it's acceptable in many semi-formal contexts like school communications. Avoid it in highly formal academic or legal texts where '儿童' is preferred.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using the singular '孩子' when referring to multiple children. Remember to add '们' (men) for the plural. Another potential issue is using it in extremely formal writing where '儿童' would be more appropriate, potentially making the tone too casual.
Tips
Use '孩子们' for multiple kids.
Remember to add '们' (men) to '孩子' (háizi) when referring to more than one child. It's the standard way to make it plural.
Avoid overuse in formal writing.
While common, '孩子们' can sound too informal in very official documents. Consider '儿童' for academic papers or legal texts.
Children are highly valued.
In Chinese culture, children are often seen as the future of the family and society. Discussions about '孩子们' often reflect care, hope, and significant attention to their upbringing.
Word Origin
The word '孩子' (háizi) itself has ancient origins, possibly related to words meaning 'infant' or 'young'. The addition of the plural marker '们' (men) is a later development in the language, common for animate nouns.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, children are highly cherished and represent the continuation of the family line. Discussions about '孩子们' often involve significant parental and societal investment in their education, well-being, and future prospects. The collective term emphasizes the group and their shared experiences.
Memory Tip
Think of '孩' (hái) as the child, and '子' (zi) as a common noun suffix. The '们' (men) at the end is the universal sign for plural in Chinese, making '孩子们' clearly mean 'children'.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions“孩子”是单数形式，指一个小孩。而“孩子们”是复数形式，指两个或两个以上的小孩。加上“们”是为了表示复数。
虽然“孩子们”比“儿童”更口语化，但在很多非正式或半正式场合，如学校通知、家长会等，使用“孩子们”也是完全可以接受的，因为它仍然是标准用法。
一般情况下，“孩子们”特指人类的小孩。但有时在非常亲昵的语境下，人们也可能用它来指代自己心爱的宠物，但这属于引申用法，不是其主要含义。
除了上面提到的“儿童”和“小孩”，还有“小朋友” (xiǎopéngyǒu)，这个词非常友好，常用于称呼或指代年龄较小的孩子，尤其是在与他们交流时。
Test Yourself
公园里有很多正在玩耍的______。
这里指多个正在玩耍的小孩，应用复数形式“孩子们”。
“The teacher loves her students.” (假设学生是孩子)
这里的“students”指代多个孩子，因此用复数“孩子们”最恰当。
词语：是 / 活泼 / 的 / 孩子们 / 很
这是一个描述“孩子们”状态的简单句子，结构为“主语 + 很 + 形容词”。
Score: /3
Summary
孩子们 is the common, plural form for 'children' in Chinese, used widely in everyday contexts.
- Refers to children, plural.
- Common and versatile in everyday Chinese.
- More informal than '儿童'.
Use '孩子们' for multiple kids.
Remember to add '们' (men) to '孩子' (háizi) when referring to more than one child. It's the standard way to make it plural.
Avoid overuse in formal writing.
While common, '孩子们' can sound too informal in very official documents. Consider '儿童' for academic papers or legal texts.
Children are highly valued.
In Chinese culture, children are often seen as the future of the family and society. Discussions about '孩子们' often reflect care, hope, and significant attention to their upbringing.
Examples
4 of 4孩子们在操场上跑来跑去，非常开心。
The children were running around the playground, very happy.
我们应该关注留守孩子们的成长问题。
We should pay attention to the growth issues of left-behind children.
你看那群孩子们，玩得多投入！
Look at that group of kids, they're so absorbed in playing!
该研究旨在分析不同年龄段孩子们认知发展的影响因素。
This study aims to analyze the influencing factors of cognitive development in children of different age groups.
